Folding leg table construction



Dec. 21, 1965 c A, CALVIN FCLDING LEG TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 17, 1963 FIG. 8

FIG. 6

FIG. 3

FIG.

INVENTOR:

CHARLES A.CALVIN FIG. 7

United States Patent 3,224,390 FOLDING LEG TABLE CONSTRUCTION Charles A. Calvin, 9919 Provo Ave., Tujunga, Calif. Filed Sept. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 309,442 6 Claims. (Cl. 108-132) This invention relates to folding leg tables and more particularly to an improved form of heavy duty table adapted, for example, for the display of heavy merchandise in stores and the like.

The objects of the invention are: to provide a table having a frame including a folding leg structure characterized by lightness in weight while having the strength to support heavy loads; which is formed, for the most part, of extruded metal shapes; in which the extended legs are releasably locked in position; and which is readily set up for use or collapsed for storage.

With the above objects in view, together with such additional objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts, and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts described, by way of example, in the following specification of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of said specification and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the under side of a table constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table shown in FIG. 1 with the leg structure folded as for storage,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the table as erected for use, a portion of the top being broken away to show details of frame and leg structure,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary view of one corner of the table in erected position, a portion of the hollow side rail being broken away to show details of interior construction,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the leg structure in folded position,

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional transverse views taken, respectively, on the lines 66 and 77 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section taken on the staggered line 99 of FIG. 7 to show the means for securing the table top to the frame structure.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a table top 1 of any suitable material such as, for example, heavy plywood, which is secured, by means presently to be described, to a rectangular frame 2 formed of hollow extruded metal bars of rectangular cross section and including parallel side rail members 3, 3 and shorter parallel, end rail members 4, 4 secured to and extending between the side rails slightly inwardly from the ends of said side rails. The end and side rails may be joined to form the said rectangular frame structure by welding, riveting or bolting as may be found most convenient.

Extending parallel to and slightly outwardly spaced from the end rails 4, 4 are the leg rails 5, 5 which are also formed from the same type of hollow bar stock as the end rails and at their lower faces are connected by hinge means 6, 6 to the under faces of the adjacent end rails 4, 4. At each end, each of the side rails 3, 3 is cut away except for the outer side or web as at 7 and each end of each leg rails 5, 5 is cut away leaving an inner side or web thereof as a tongue 8 extending across the open end of the end rail 5; the said cut away portions at each end of the leg rails forming a pair of recesses 9, 9' in which the upper ends of the legs 10, 10 are received and are suitably secured to the ends of the leg rails by any appropriate means, it being noted that the hinge means 6, 6

are disposed below the upper end of each leg assembly comprising one leg rail 5 and a pair of legs 10, 10. Preferably, the legs are formed from lengths of hollow square metal extrusions of greater diameter than the diametral dimensions of the recesses 9, 9 so that as viewed in side or end elevation of the table, the legs stand outwardly slightly from the planes of the surfaces of the adjacent side and end rails.

At diagonally opposite inside corners of the frame structure, the inner face or web of each side rail is provided with a bearing bracket 11 having a bore 12 extending therethrough and through the web of the side rail and the adjacent end rail inner face is provided with a bracket arm 13 projecting parallel to and spaced from the side rail, said bracket terminating in a bore 14 disposed in axial alignment with the bore 12. Mounted for oscillatory movement in the bores 12 and 14 is a rockshaft 15 carrying a radially extending operating handle 16 preferably formed with a loop 17 adapted for manual engagement. Within the side rail 3, each rockshaft 15 carries a crankarm 18 having its distal end connected to one end of a link 19, the other end of said link being connected to an eye 20 formed in a bracket 21 which is fixed to the side of the tongue portion 12 of the leg rail 5 overlying the open end of the side rail 3 and is thus disposed above the axial line of the hinge means.

Having reference to FIG. 5, as the handle 16 and shaft 15 are moved in a counterclockwise direction, the crankarm 18, which in FIG. 5 is extending in line with the link 19, will draw the link to the right as viewed in that figure causing the leg assembly comprising the leg rail 5 and two legs 10 to be moved about its hinged mounting in a clockwise direction until the leg assembly is swung into vertical position with the outer face of the leg rail tongue portion 12 engaging the end of the rail 3. The throw of the crank 18 is such that the leg assembly reaches said vertical position slightly before the crankarm passes overcenter. The link 19 is given a slight amount of longitud1' nal resiliency by being provided with a shallow U-shaped bend 22 intermediate the ends thereof and as the handle 18 is employed to rotate the shaft 15 sufficiently to move the crankarm 18 to overcenter position, the said resiliency of the link 19 permits this overcenter movement whereby, the tension imposed on the link 19 when in the position shown in FIG. 4 prevents unintended clockwise movement of the shaft and crankarm in a clockwise direction and resultant collapse of the leg assembly. The handle 16 is so positioned on the shaft 15 that when in the erected position, the loop 17 engages the under side of the table top 1 to prevent further r-otative movement of the shaft 15 which would, of course, allow the leg to collapse. When it is desired to fold up the table, the handle 16 is rotated in a clockwise direction resulting in the positive movement of the leg assembly to the folded position shown in FIG. 5.

The top 1 is secured to the frame structure by a series of screws 23 extending through holes 24 in the top webs of the side and end rails. The bottom webs of said rails are provided with holes 25 axially aligned with the holes 23 affording access for a screwdriver to apply the screws incident to fastening the table top to the frame structure or to remove it in the event that the table top is to be replaced. The inner webs of the side and end rails are provided with large bores 26 which are disposed in alignment with the bores 23 and 25 affording access through which the screws 24 may be inserted for engagement with the screwdriver.

Thus there has been provided a table structure which is both extremely neat in appearance and of great structural strength. It is particularly to be noted that all of the main frame members including the side and end rails,

the leg rails and the legs themselves :are formed from standard extruded metal shapes cut to suitable lengths and that the only parts which do not constitute standard arti cles of commerce are those relating to the means for causing the folding and unfolding of the leg structure and that these are of simple design, wherefore they may be produced With a minimum of tooling.

While in the foregoing specification there has been disclosed a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not to be inferred therefrom that the invention is limited to the details of construction thus disclosed by way of example and it will be understood that the invention includes as well all such changes and modifications in the parts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding leg table construction, a table top, a supporting frame for said table top comprising hollow side rails having the ends thereof and hollow end rails connected to the adjacent side surfaces of the side rails to form a top supporting frame of rectangular configuration as viewed in plan, a pair of leg assemblies disposed one each at each end of said frame and each assembly including a pair of leg members and a horizontal member connecting the upper ends of said pair of legs, means hingedly mounting each of said leg assemblies to one each of the rails of said frame for movement about axes spaced from and parallel to the plane of said table top for movement between a folded position parallel and adjacent to the side of said frame remote from the side thereof en: gaged by said table top and an erected position at right angles thereto with the horizontal connecting members of each of the leg assemblies positioned adjacent and parallel to the outer surfaces of the respective end rails, and separate manually operable means each extending between one each of said side rails and one each of said leg assemblies at a point thereon above said hinge means effective to cause positive movement of the connected leg assembly between said positions.

2. A table construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said manually operable means includes over-center means effective to releasably lock the leg assembly including a rotatable crank arm and a lengthwise resilient link perated thereby in erected position.

3. A table construction as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said manually operable means includes a crank arm mounted on a rockshaft journaled in the inner web of the hollow side rail with the said crank arm disposed within the side rail and a resilient link disposed within and concealed by the hollow side rail on which said rock shaft is journaled extending between said crank arm and a portion of the associated leg assembly disposed opposite the end of said hollow side rail.

4. A table construction 'as claimed in claim 2 in which said manually operable means for each of said leg assemblies includes a rockshaft disposed parallel to the end rails of said frame structure and disposed laterally therefrom, in which said rockshafts extend into one each of said hollow side rails and actuate said overcenter means disposed within the respective side rails effective to lock the leg assemblies with which they are associated in erected position.

5. A table construction as claimed in claim 4 in which said rockshafts are each provided with a radially ex tending handle means so positioned on the associated rock-shaft as to engage the under surface of the table top when said rockshaft has moved said overcenter means to said leg assembly locking position.

6, A table construction as claimed in claim 4 in which each of said hollow end rails carries a laterally extending bracket forming an outboard bearing for the end of the adjacent one of said 'rockshafts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,534,470 4/1925 Smith 108130 1,916,288 7/1933 Symmonds 108-130 2,028,724 1/1936 Richie 108-l30 2,033,528 3/1936 Laperye 108l30 2,213,681 9/1940 Symmonds 108-130 2,225,512 12/1940 Stiles 108130 2,533,173 12/1950 Mitchell 108l30 3,026,160 3/1962 Bisr 108-132 3,093,095 6/1963 Howe, et al 108131 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. G. o. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDING LEG TABLE CONSTRUCTION, A TABLE TOP, A SUPPORTING FRAME FOR SAID TABLE TOP COMPRISING HOLLOW SIDE RAILS HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF AND HOLLOW END RAILS CONNECTED TO THE ADJACENT SIDE SURFACES OF THE SIDE RAILS TO FORM A TOP SUPPORTING FRAME OF RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION AS VIEWED IN PLAN, A PAIR OF LEG ASSEMBLIES DISPOSED ONE EACH AT EACH END OF SAID FRAME AND EACH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PAIR OF LEG MEMBERS AND A HORIZONTAL MEMBER CONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID PAIR OF LEGS, MEANS HINGEDLY MOUNTING EACH OF SAID LEGS ASSEMBLIES TO ONE EACH OF THE RAILS OF SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID TABLE TOP FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FOLDED POSITION PARALLEL AND ADJACENT TO THE SIDE OF SAID FRAME REMOTE FROM THE SIDE THEREOF ENGATED BY SAID TABLE TOP AND AN ERECTED POSITION AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO WITH THE HORIZONTAL CONNECTING MEMBERS OF EACH OF THE LEG ASSEMBLIES POSITIONED ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE RESPECTIVE END RAILS, AND SEPARABE MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS EACH EXTENDING BETWEEN ONE EACH OF SAID SIDE RAILS AND ONE EACH OF SAID LEG ASSEMBLIES AT A POINT THEREON ABOVE SAID HINGE MEANS EFFECTIVE TO CAUSE POSITIVE MOVEMENT OF THE CONNECTED LEG ASSEMBLY BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS. 